Campus Alert Archive
Princeton

Campus IT outage disables SSO and some phones; buildings manually locked

AI-generated · every claim is source-linked
NJinfrastructure failureadvisoryhigh confidence
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On September 9, 2025, Princeton Public Safety issued a TigerAlert update on an ongoing OIT disruption affecting single sign-on, eduroam Wi-Fi, and some desk phones, with manual locking of administrative and academic buildings and instructions to vacate academic buildings after 8:30 p.m.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Princeton University
Private R1 · NJ
All Princeton cases →
~8,500 studentsTigerAlert
Official alert policy
Read when and how Princeton says it will use TigerAlert (formerly PTENS): summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

UPDATEEmail
Verified verbatim1817 chars
TIGERALERT: The response to the ongoing OIT disruption continues. OIT is engaging with the respective vendor(s) and continues to investigate. Ongoing updates will be posted to: https://oit.princeton.edu/outage Many Princeton University applications and services are unavailable. At this time, it may not be possible to use the single-sign-on service to sign-in to applications. Campus WiFi via the eduroam network is also affected. Critical life safety systems such as the fire alarm system and 911 remain operational, but the OIT team has identified that some desk phones are no longer connected to the network. For that reason, the University recommends mobile phones to reach 911 or emergency services. Additional personnel from Public Safety and Facilities will be on campus until the outages are resolved. Due to the unavailability of some systems related to remotely monitoring building access, the following actions will be taken this evening: Administrative buildings were manually locked at 5 pm. Card access is disabled. Academic and research buildings will be manually locked at 8:30 pm. In the meantime, local alarm systems such as fume hoods and refrigeration alarms may not work in these buildings. After 8:30 pm, these buildings should be vacated. Only emergency access will be permitted after this time. Residence halls will remain on their normal locking schedule. Students should make sure to bring their TigerCards when leaving their buildings as systems enabling temporary cards are not functioning. Firestone Library circulation will remain open until 9 pm and the study areas will be open until 11 pm. Firestone Special Collections, the Milberg Gallery, and the Cotsen Children’s Library are closed for the remainder of the day. Campus recreational facilities will remain open as scheduled.
Verify this quote
Princeton Public Safety Alerts & Warnings — TIGERALERT 5:20 PM Update OIT Service Disruptionpublicsafety.princeton.edufind archived copies
Full text from the official Public Safety archive page (Last Updated September 9, 2025 at 2:59 p.m. on the page chrome; title is 5:20 PM Update).
Includes protective facility instructions: vacate academic buildings after 8:30 p.m. and use mobile phones for 911.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

TIGERALERT: The response to the ongoing OIT disruption continues. OIT is engaging with the respective vendor(s) and continues to investigate. Ongoing updates will be posted to: https://oit.princeton.edu/outage Many Princeton University applications and services are unavailable. At this time, it may not be possible to use the single-sign-on service to sign-in to applications. Campus WiFi via the eduroam network is also affected. Critical life safety systems such as the fire alarm system and 911 remain operational, but the OIT team has identified that some desk phones are no longer connected to the network. For that reason, the University recommends mobile phones to reach 911 or emergency services. Additional personnel from Public Safety and Facilities will be on campus until the outages are resolved. Due to the unavailability of some systems related to remotely monitoring building access, the following actions will be taken this evening: Administrative buildings were manually locked at 5 pm. Card access is disabled. Academic and research buildings will be manually locked at 8:30 pm. In the meantime, local alarm systems such as fume hoods and refrigeration alarms may not work in these buildings. After 8:30 pm, these buildings should be vacated. Only emergency access will be permitted after this time. Residence halls will remain on their normal locking schedule. Students should make sure to bring their TigerCards when leaving their buildings as systems enabling temporary cards are not functioning. Firestone Library circulation will remain open until 9 pm and the study areas will be open until 11 pm. Firestone Special Collections, the Milberg Gallery, and the Cotsen Children’s Library are closed for the remainder of the day. Campus recreational facilities will remain open as scheduled.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present: 25 of 25 for S on first-burst (oit).

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit0).
    2. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit1).
    3. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit2).
    4. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit3).
    5. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit4).
    6. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit5).
    7. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit6).
    8. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit7).
    9. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit8).
    10. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit9).
    11. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit10).
    12. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit11).
    13. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit12).
    14. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit13).
    15. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit14).
    16. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit15).
    17. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit16).
    18. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit17).
    19. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit18).
    20. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit19).
    21. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit20).
    22. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit21).
    23. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit22).
    24. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit23).
    25. present: Public Safety or TIGERALERT branding identifies the sender (oit24).
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present: 25 of 25 for H on first-burst (oit).

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit0).
    2. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit1).
    3. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit2).
    4. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit3).
    5. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit4).
    6. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit5).
    7. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit6).
    8. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit7).
    9. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit8).
    10. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit9).
    11. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit10).
    12. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit11).
    13. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit12).
    14. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit13).
    15. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit14).
    16. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit15).
    17. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit16).
    18. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit17).
    19. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit18).
    20. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit19).
    21. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit20).
    22. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit21).
    23. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit22).
    24. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit23).
    25. present: A specific hazard or disruption is named (oit24).
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present: 25 of 25 for L on first-burst (oit).

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit0).
    2. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit1).
    3. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit2).
    4. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit3).
    5. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit4).
    6. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit5).
    7. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit6).
    8. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit7).
    9. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit8).
    10. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit9).
    11. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit10).
    12. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit11).
    13. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit12).
    14. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit13).
    15. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit14).
    16. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit15).
    17. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit16).
    18. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit17).
    19. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit18).
    20. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit19).
    21. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit20).
    22. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit21).
    23. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit22).
    24. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit23).
    25. present: Campus places or systems locations are referenced (oit24).
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present: 25 of 25 for G on first-burst (oit).

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit0).
    2. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit1).
    3. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit2).
    4. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit3).
    5. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit4).
    6. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit5).
    7. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit6).
    8. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit7).
    9. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit8).
    10. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit9).
    11. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit10).
    12. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit11).
    13. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit12).
    14. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit13).
    15. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit14).
    16. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit15).
    17. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit16).
    18. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit17).
    19. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit18).
    20. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit19).
    21. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit20).
    22. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit21).
    23. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit22).
    24. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit23).
    25. present: Recipients are told protective or operational actions to take (oit24).
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present: 25 of 25 for T on first-burst (oit).

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit0).
    2. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit1).
    3. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit2).
    4. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit3).
    5. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit4).
    6. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit5).
    7. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit6).
    8. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit7).
    9. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit8).
    10. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit9).
    11. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit10).
    12. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit11).
    13. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit12).
    14. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit13).
    15. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit14).
    16. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit15).
    17. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit16).
    18. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit17).
    19. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit18).
    20. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit19).
    21. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit20).
    22. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit21).
    23. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit22).
    24. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit23).
    25. present: Clock times or schedule times are stated (oit24).
  • Impactpresent20/25

    Final assessment

    Present by majority 20 of 25: operational unavailability and emergency-calling impact stated; minority wanted physical-harm severity language.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit0).
    2. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit1).
    3. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit2).
    4. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit3).
    5. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit4).
    6. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit5).
    7. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit6).
    8. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit7).
    9. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit8).
    10. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit9).
    11. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit10).
    12. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit11).
    13. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit12).
    14. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit13).
    15. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit14).
    16. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit15).
    17. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit16).
    18. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit17).
    19. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit18).
    20. present: Consequence or severity language is present (oit19).
    21. absent: Does not state injury risk or deadly harm, only operational impact (oit20).
    22. absent: Does not state injury risk or deadly harm, only operational impact (oit21).
    23. absent: Does not state injury risk or deadly harm, only operational impact (oit22).
    24. absent: Does not state injury risk or deadly harm, only operational impact (oit23).
    25. absent: Does not state injury risk or deadly harm, only operational impact (oit24).

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

Princeton's Office of Information Technology experienced a multi-system disruption that Public Safety mirrored as a campus TigerAlert. The archived 5:20 p.m. update couples IT status with physical-security workarounds (manual building locks, disabled card access, temporary-card systems down) and directs community members to mobile phones for emergency calling when desk phones lose network connectivity. Ongoing status was pointed to oit.princeton.edu/outage.
Analysis

Key Findings

TigerAlert used for IT outage with concrete campus-access and emergency-calling instructions
Message distinguishes life-safety systems still working from applications, Wi-Fi, and desk phones that were not
Outcome
Critical life-safety systems remained operational; Public Safety and Facilities staffed campus; building access and library hours adjusted for the evening of the outage.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    Public Safety TigerAlert — 5:20 PM Update OIT Service Disruption
    publicsafety.princeton.edu
    archived copy
  2. Official
    Princeton OIT outage page (linked from the TigerAlert)
    oit.princeton.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Princeton University: Campus IT outage disables SSO and some phones; buildings manually locked." Incident of September 9, 2025. Added July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/princeton-university-oit-service-disruption-2025-09-09/

Download case JSON

Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
infrastructureoittigeralertprincetonoutage
Added July 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion